Carpet is an attractive form of flooring that becomes dingy-looking and dirty from foot traffic. However, you may wonder which carpets are easiest to keep clean? We researched different types of carpets that range in maintenance.
If you are curious about which types of carpet are easiest to clean, check out our list of suggestions.
- Low pile carpet
- Solid color carpet in the brown family, blue, grey, or beige.
- Patterned carpet
- Nylon carpet
- Polyester carpet
- Polypropylene carpet
Discover the best carpet for your lifestyle that is easy to keep clean and helpful tips to improve your carpet's performance.
Best Carpets To Keep Clean
If you have carpet in a home with heavy foot traffic, pets, kids, or the risk of spills and stains, you'll want to install an easy-to-clean carpet. We have provided a list of carpet choices that minimize the appearance of dirt and clean up well.
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1. Low Pile Carpet
If you frequently have house guests, live with kids, pets, or frequently have spills, opt for a low-pile carpet. A low-pile carpet is designed to handle wear and tear without losing its original look, and it is easy to keep clean.
2. Solid Colors For Carpet
An optimal choice for carpet is a solid color in a medium to a dark hue. Black is a good choice for most darker stains. But, a black carpet can show signs of dirt and debris that is light in color very easily. Check out the following:
Brown
Earth color carpets in beige, sandy brown, taupe, and medium to dark chocolate browns are great for hiding most dirt and debris. Often, many stains, hair, and other buildup match the color of a solid rug in the brown family.
If your home frequently encounters mud, tea, coffee, or similar colored stains hidden within a shade of brown, look for carpet in this color. Choose a solid brown carpet in a material that is easy to clean or low pile for maintenance.
Blue
A rich deep blue color often distracts the eye from noticing any spills or stains that may occur. If you have a home with kids, creative type, or run the risk of the carpet interacting with paint, markers, or questionable origins, go with blue.
Consider shampooing your blue rug to keep it clean and opt for one that is low pile, nylon, or polypropylene.
Grey
Surprisingly, grey that is dark or medium in color can hide away many types of dirt and debris. Be careful with a light-colored grey carpet, which can easily emphasize stains and dirt. Opt for a low pile grey rug that can handle the traffic.
3. Patterned Carpet
Take pride in installing a carpet with a busy pattern filled with ornate floral-inspired designs, repeating graphic motifs, or other visually interesting designs. Often, most dirt, stains, and debris can hide out among the details.
When you clean up a patterned carpet, even if there are some areas where debris or dirt hang on, it's hard to make out unless you are looking for problems.
4. Nylon Carpet
Embrace a carpet made with a synthetic material, as nylon carpet is often resistant to fading, crushing, stains, and mildew buildup. If your home has kids and pets, a nylon carpet is a durable choice that isn't hard to keep clean.
Nylon carpet bounces back to its original state after cleaning and can last for up to 15 years, surviving wear and tear.
5. Polyester Carpet
If you worry about stains caused by oil-based substances or desire a carpet that is stain resistant, look for polyester flooring. Polyester is a little less durable than nylon and may be prone to fading, but they repel water-based stains.
6. Polypropylene Carpet
With a polypropylene carpet, be prepared to tackle troublesome dirt, stains, and wear and tear. The fibers of this type of carpet are designed to resist moisture, mildew and can handle abrasion without easily degrading in quality.
Which Carpet Does Not Get Dirty?
The best type of carpet to install in a home to repel dirt and stains is low-pile and nylon. Nylon is a resilient fiber that can withstand abrasion, heavy foot traffic and is easy to keep clean.
Because a carpet with low-pile fibers is denser, it doesn't readily hold onto dirt and debris. Plus, a low-pile carpet is durable and built to clean up easily. Choose the best of both worlds and look for a low-pile nylon carpet.
What Color Carpet Shows The Least Amount Of Dirt?
Wear and tear, spills, stains, and foot traffic can eventually cause a carpet to lose its luster and become incredibly dirty. However, you can reduce how noticeable dirt and stains on a carpet are to the eye if you choose the right color.
When possible, opt for a medium to darker color carpet that is brown to hide dirt. Many stains from pets, children, food, and debris hide more easily within a medium to a dark brown carpet. However, care should be taken for cleaning.
Even if you choose a dark color carpet to detract the eye from noticing dirt and stains, be cautious when cleaning your carpet. Some treatments and cleaning agents may discolor a carpet's fibers when lifting away dirt if not careful.
Read More: Should New Carpet Be Cleaned?
Which Is Better Steam Cleaning Or Shampooing Carpet?
Depending on how heavily your carpet is soiled and the type of stain or dirt left behind, it may be better to use steam cleaning versus shampooing.
If allergens are a concern and you don't mind enlisting a professional cleaning service, steam cleaning is superior to shampooing a carpet. Steam cleaning is less likely to damage carpet fibers, leave behind residue, and dry quickly.
Shampooing a carpet requires the use of chemicals which can weaken or damage carpet fibers. Plus, it takes time for the carpet to dry after cleaning.
Whether you opt for steam cleaning or shampooing, ensure proper air circulation. Help remove moisture and encourage your carpet to dry thoroughly and quickly to reduce mildew, mold, or bacteria from developing.
Read More: How Long Does Carpet Take To Dry After Using A Cleaner?
Check out this deep-cleaning carpet shampooer on Amazon.
Is Steam Cleaning Bad For Carpet?
Steam cleaning is not bad for most carpets, as it typically requires using a professional service and commercial-grade steamer. Steam cleaning doesn't leave behind residue, easily warp carpet fibers after cleaning, and kills bugs and eggs.
Steam cleaning a carpet is often more desirable despite the potential higher cost versus shampooing. This is because steam cleaning is chemical-free and dislodges most stains, dirt, and debris from carpet fibers.
Make sure to increase air circulation, enlist the use of fans, and moderate indoor temperatures and humidity levels to speed up the drying process for steam cleaned carpet. Wait until the carpet is fully dry before resuming normal use.
Check out this steam cleaner on Amazon.
What Is The Best Grade Of Carpet?
Invest in your home by purchasing the best grade of carpet possible to withstand wear and tear and resist dirt and stains. Carpet is graded based on its fiber density, fiber type, weight, construction, and afforded longevity.
The best grade of carpet is typically wool or Stainmaster nylon 6.6. These two options are considered the best grade of carpet because they are easy to clean, highly resilient, and come in a wide range of colors and styles.
Keep in mind, low-grade carpet lasts around 10 to 15 years, whereas carpet with a medium to high grade can last for over thirty years. When reviewing carpet, high-grade products should have dense fibers that don't easily show the backing.
Conclusion
We hope you feel more confident about choosing an easy-to-clean and maintain carpet. Carpet is suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and home offices. Choosing a carpet that can handle foot traffic and resist dirt is ideal.
If you need a carpet that makes stains less noticeable, choose a solid carpet in a medium to a dark color or one with a busy pattern to hide flaws. Be careful when cleaning a carpet, as certain agents and techniques may cause discoloration.
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